Electric-switch mechanism.



B. S. PUTTS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, 1915.

'1 1 92,346. Patented July-25, 1916.

I tion of the invention,

5 space A, 1'. place ll? all.

Specification of Letters leteot.

ispplicaticn filed August 9, 1915. {Serial Kc. the??? To all whom it may cameo-a:

it known that I, BENJAMILXI Si TPn'iTs, a c t zen of the United States, residing at 1511716, in the county of Eric and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Ehviteh Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the iollowing to be a full, clear, ancl exact (llSC1lp* "gch as will enable others skilled. in the art to which it ripper tains to make and use the same, .i'ei ei'encc being had. to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to combination electric switches. Switches of this character are particularly desirable for controlling the ignition of the motors of vehicles, for the purpose of preventing unauthorized use o'l such vehicles; but such switches may he used with advantage in other electric circuits where it is desirable to prevent unauthorized use of current. i

T he object of my invention. is to provide the ordinary lever switches with a cut-out mechanism controlled by a plurality of push pins, so that it necessary to know what i-mnhination oi? push pins and the sequence of the same, in (ii-(lei: to close the cutout mechanism so that the switch lever will, when operated, close the circuit,

The features of my invention are hereinafter described and pointed out, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l, is a front elevation of a combi nation switch embodying -my invention. Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the same with the back plate ren'ioverl, Fig. 8, is a transverse section of the same on the line sa e: in Fig 2. Fig. 4:, is a top side view of one part of the mechanism of my invention. .Fig. 5, is an underside View of another part of the mechanism of my invention. Fig. 6, shows the center-post mecuinism of my invention, disjointed and removed therefrom.

In these drawings A, inclieates the body or case of my invention, which is circular in form, and made preferably of non-conducting' matetiil, and pi'oviclecl with annular llahges, A and. "1, on the rear side thereof, so that there is an annular space AF, between the fiangesii and A and a circulacspace A", Within tie flange A. fienti'allv in the a square post having; a

longitudinal screw threaded hole there to. a round Hill centhrm1gh ,an l which is prev (l extension 18, which attends threw ti'al hole in the case A, and secured therein by means of a screw a The oppijisitc end ot the postll also provide-iii with round on tBllOl'l for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Upon the square pest ll, 1 place a (lick Q, Which provided with a cylindrical huh U, having a square iti'al opening therethrough to slidaoly i he equate post 'lilhe dish U, is also proviu al on its upper side 'ith a so s oi? annulai ratchet teeth 1', Under the disk C, l place springs U, i niaily maintain the dish (I in tion, and throi' eh longitiulina hub C, of the l l secure a stud-pin [1. in the square po t B, which serves to limit the upwaicl i'noveniciit oi? the dish CM Rotatahly mounted upon. the huh Q", oi the disk, I place a Wheel D. which no titled on its under siile with a series of annular ratchet teethl), ivhh i ,Ill GllllCSll with the ratchet teeth a, on the disk (3. The Wheel D, is provided with. a huh h ving an iutui'necl flange D ,Which l the huh C, i. the LllSli U ano lite ti IOlu extension 13", on the post l then so the part B, of the centenpost (see Fig into the square pest ii which secures the (I C, and Wheel i), in place on said post, the stud pin extending outward throi 'h a short circumferential slot in the wall oi; the huh of the wheel D, permitting; of a limited thereof to the stnil pin U sec-nice iii th square post 3, anal operates to move the iYllQQl D, in. one iliiectioh. Pivotal upon the iinnge hi, there is a rocking: lever B, having a hicreated end extending; over the who f B, 1 and a hooked. end extending over the space A, between the flanges A. anal A", so as to contact with an electric terminal ll, cured on the flange A. Mounted in. the film A, there is a melting; post G, which pic viclecl With an eccentric projection {1, on the encl thereof adapted to engage the iifiiiii encl of. the lever E, when the same has hccn operated as hereinattci: described. For ope! ating the lever F, l. secure an insulateifl stud in E, in the Wheel l), sc-

bifurcated eml of the lever E. On the outer end of the post G, I secure a switch lever G, by which the post G, can be operated.

In suitable openings in the flanges A and A I place radial pins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, which are provided with springs 9, one end of which is inserted through transverse holes in said pins inside of the flange A, and the other end of said springs being inserted under said pins, and engaging the flange A, said springs operating to force the pins outward, limittheir outward movement and also prevent said pins from revolving in their holes. The inner ends of'the pins 3, 6 and 8, are adapted to engage the teeth (Z, 1] and (F, on the wheel D, when pushed in consecutively and are made with axial inclined faces 9 to co-incidc with the inclined surfaces of said teeth, and the inner ends of the pins 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7, are provided with radial, inclined faces adapted to slide over the upper side of the disk C, and force it downward away from the wheel D, when any of said pins are operated.

In operation the lever G, is pushed into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, so that it contacts with the screw 7), then the pin 3, is-pushcd in, the inner end thereof contacting with the tooth (Z, on the wheel D,

and causing it to rotate far enough to put the tooth fl, into posltion to be engaged by the pin 6. The pin 6, is then pushed inward, which continues the movement of the wheel D, sufliciently to place the tooth d, to be engaged by the pin 8. during which two movements the insulated stud pin E, has moved across the space between the horns of the bifurcated lever E. The pin 8, is then pushed inward and engages the tooth (P, which forces the Wheel D, to travel far enough to cause the stud pin E, to swing the lever E, so that its hooked'end will enter between and contact with the eccentric extension g, on the post G. and the terminal F,

secured on the flange A. The circuit is thus completed through the central post. screw 7), lever G, post G, eccentric extension 7, thereon, the hooked end of the lever E, and terminal F, which can be broken by swinging thelever G',off of the screw 7), as shown by broken lines in Fig. 1, which causes the eccentric extension on the post G. to move backward from the hooked end of the lever E, .and thus break the circuit. when it is not desired to disturb the combination set by the operation of the pins 3, 6, and 8, hereinbefore described. But when it is desired to break said combination. one has only to push inward on any one of the pins 1. 2, 4, 5 or 7, which will force the disk (7. downward. thereby parting the ratchet teeth 0 and D, which permits the spring D to move the wheel I). ha ck to its starting point,

and the insulated *tudpin E. thereon. swings the lever lkso that its hooked end is out of contact with the terminal F, so that if the switch lever G, is again moved over into contact with the screw 6, the circuit remains broken between the eccentric projection g, on the post G, and the terminal F, which can only be closed by the operation of the combination as before described.

While I have shown the case A. as constructed of non-conducting material. it is obvious that'other material can be used if desired, by the emplovment of properinsulation, and while I have shown and described a convenient mechanism for breaking the circuit within the case. it is obvious that many other forms of mechanism can be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention: but

lVhat I claim as new and desire to sci-lire by Letters-Patent, isc- 1. In a device of the class described. an electric circuit, a. swinging lever adapted to make and break said circuit, a central post, a wheel mounted on said post, teeth on said wheel, means on said wheel to operate said lever, spring-pressed pins adapted to engage the teeth and operate said wheel in one direction, a spring to operate said wheel in the opposite direction, ratchet mechanism to prevent the backward movement of said wheel, and other spring-pressed pins to operate said ratchet mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2; In a device of the class described. a circular case. a central terminal post secured thereon, a spring-pressed disk slidably and non-rotatably mounted on said post. ratchet teeth on said disk, a wheel rotatably supported on said post. means on said wheel to engage said ratchet teeth on said disk, a spring to move saidnvheel in one direction, teeth on said wheel having inclined sides, an electric terminal secured to said case. means operable by said wheel to make and break said circuit. and radial sm'ingprcssed pins slidably mounted in said case. some of which are adapted to engage said teeth on said wheel. and some of which are adapted to engage said ratchet disk. substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a circularcasc. a central post secured thereon. a. spring-pressed disk non-rotatahly and slidably mounted on said post. ratchet teeth on said disk. a rotatable wheel supported by said post. teeth on said wheel. means on said wheel to engage the ratchet teeth on said disk. a. stud-pin on said wheel. an electric terminal secured to said case. a swinging lever pivoted to said case and adapted to be engaged bvsaid stud-pin. and the opposite end of said lever adapted to contact with said terminal. and radial. spring-pressed pins mounted in said case. some of which are adapted to engage the teeth on said wheel for the purpose of giving limited ro- ..I

from said ,ivheel to disengage said ratchetteeth, substantially as described.

Inr'a device of theclass described, a

circular plate, annular flanges thereon, a terminal post secured in said plate, a terminal secured on one of said flanges, a rocking post pivoted in said plate, an eccentric shoulder on said post, a switch lever adapted to rotate said rocking post and contact with said terminal post so that said eccentric extension will be moved toward the terminal secured on said peripheral flange, a swing inglever pivoted on one of said flanges, and adapted to bridge the space between said eccentric shoulder and'the terminal secured on the peripheral flange, a wheel mounted on said, central post, a spring to move said wheel in one direction, teeth on said wheel, radial spring-pressed pins to engage. said teeth and niovesaid Wheel in the opposite direction, ratchet; mechanism to prevent backward movement of said wheel, means on said Wheel to engage and operate said swinging lever to close said electric circuit, other spring-pressed pins to operate said ratchet mechanism, substantially as set forth.

5. In a device of theclass described, circuit making and breaking mechanism, a Wheel, teeth on said Wheel, means on said wheel to engage and operate said circuit making, and breaking means, radial springpressed pins so located radially around said wheel as to consecutively engage the teeth on said wheel when said pins are operated consecutively so that the last pin to be 0pcrated .Willcause said Wheel to operate said circuit making and breaking mechanism, ratchet mechanism to prevent backward stantially as set forth.

movement of said wheel, and spring-pressed pins to release said ratchet mechanlsm, sub

6. In a device of the class described, a circular front plate of non-conducting ma terial, a peripheral flange thereon, a. cen- 1 to operate said wheel in one direction, means on said Wheelto engage and operate said swinging lever, inclined projections on said wheel, a plurality of spring-pressedlpins mounted in said flange and adapted to engage consecutive teeth on said Wheel when pressed in a prescribed order to move said wheel sufiiciently to cause said swinging 1e- 'ver to close the break in the circuit between tral post secured in said plate adapted to I act as an electric terminal, a rocking postthe eccentricprojection and its adjacent terminal, so that the circuit will be completed from the central post to the terminal on said'flange, mechanism to prevent said wheel from moving backward and radial spring-pressed pins mounted in said flange adapted to release said ratchet mechanism, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof'I aflix my signature.

BENJAMIN S. PUTTS. 

